Fire resistant studs



Nov. 24, 1964 H. P. cALlGlURl 3,158,236

FIRE RESISTANT sTUDs Filed March l2, 1963 United States Patent O HeutThis invention relates to studs used in the preparation of room dividersand partitions. More specifically it relates to studs that eliminatetransmission of llame and smoke from one roorn to another.

ln conventional partitions between rooms in factories, salesrooms andthe like, slotted studs are used in vertically disposed position in lieuof the conventional lumbei' 2 by 4 of the building trade.

The studs for formation of conventional partition walls are made ofsheet metal and are of rectangular two inches by four inches incross-section. These studs are provided with at least one row oflinearly disposed apertures or" suitable rectangular configuration oneach of the four faces. The slots on the nar-row face of the studs areeX- posed to the atmosphere between the dry wall and me used `to engagethe hooks of hangers used for display shelves and the like.

A serious disadvantage of these slotted steel studs are that they permitatmospheric communication between the rooms through the slots located onthe opposed narrow faces of the stud. rl`hus where there is a tire inone room and hence on but one side of the partition, smoke and evenllame can pass through these apertures of the stud into the adjoiningroorn.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apertured lire resistantrnetal stud that prevents transfer of smoke and ilarne therethrough.

t is a further object to provide a hollow longitudinal stud of arectangular cross-section having at least one removeably disposed lineariirewall therein.

It is another object to provide an apertured all metal hollow studhaving non-apertured sheet metal panel means suitably disposed thereinto prevent passage of smoke and darne through said stud.

lt is another object of this invention to provide a hollow linear studof rectangular cross-section, each oi` whose four walls are providedwith a plurality of apertures, having a separate slideably insertablenon-apertured planar rewall disposed substantially hernietically thereinthereby preventing atmospheric communication between opposing walls.

These and other obiects of this invention will become apparent uponreading the following descriptive disclosure of several embodimentsthereof and as shown in the accompanying drawing in which FIG. l is aperspective view of a rectangular metal stud having a separate sheetmetal firewall or tongue slideably disposed diagonally therein,

FlG. 2 is a cross-section view of a modified stud having a zig-zagfirewall slideably disposed diagonally therein,

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of another modied stud having a step typeiirewall therein,

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of yet another modification of this inventionshowing a pair of substantially U-shaped sheet steel elements disposedtherein, said elements having planar Contact at the base of each of theU-shaped panel elements,

FIG. 5 is a cross-section View of another modification, being amodification of the iirewall of FlG. 4 altered to provide for insertionor hooks of lateral irl-between wall elements,

FlG. 6 is a cross-section of yet another modification showing a pair ofV-shaped elements contacting each other at their apex thereof, and

3,l58,23b Patented Nov. v24, i964 Cey FIG. 7 is a view of the separatoror rewall of FIG. 3 before insertion, showing the lateral outward springlike etect of each of the planar legs.

Turning now to the drawing, a steel stud 10 of rectangular cross-sectionis provided with a pair of opposed narrow faces ll and l2 disposedtoward respective roorns and also with a pair of opposed wide faces 13and 14 disposed between the wall partitions l5 (FIG. 2).

The studs 10 are preferably made from sheet metal, preferably steel, butstuds made of glass fiber or asbestos plastic compositions are operable.

The studs are provided with rectangular apertures i6 adapted to receivehooks disposed on shelves or other structural elements.

As shown in FIG. 1, a firewall l is provided and it is edge l ispreferably slightly larger than the diagonal length of the cross-sectionof stud lil. Thus the panel 17 is bowed or curved slightly duringinsertion into the stud itl and it springs into tight contact with thestud corners upon being fully inserted therein. i

The stud llt? preferably is of butt weld construction having a butt weldline 19. However, seamless studs are also operable in this invention. f

rurning to FIG. 2, an integral single'sheet iirewall panel Z@ of uniquedesign is provided. This panel Ztl is provided with a diagonallydisposed center section 2li at each end of which there is provided alateral section 22 and 23 respectively. A leg 24 is provided integralwith and at a right angle to section 22 and a second leg 25 is providedintegral with and at a right angle to lateral section 23.

The legs 24 and 25 of firewall 2t? are normally urged spring likeoutwardly, so that when the iirewall Bil is inserted into the stud l@ atight planar sealing eilect is made between leg 24 and stud face i3 andleg 25 and stud face i4. Such a'large Contact area provides an effectiveseal against passage of smoke or llame. The firewall 2t? permits use ofboth rows of apertures on each of the stud faces i3 and 14. 1

In FlG. 3, a tirewall Btl also of single sheet construction is providedwith a center lateral section 3f. of about the narrow dimension of the`stud En. The firewall 3@ is provided with an upright leg 3i integrnwith vthe vcenter section 31 at one end and with a depending leg 32,integral with the center section at its other end. As shown in' FIG. 7,legs 32 and 33 are bent to the dash lines shown when .they are insertedinto the rectangular member l3- 'iid so that when the firewall 3i) isinserted in place an extra large area of hermetical Contact is made.However the use of a firewall 3i? is possible only where a pair of thenon-opposed stud apertures are not to be used,

since legs 32 and 33 are disposed over these apertures of The bases 42and 45 are disposed in planar area contact and preferably are suitablyspot welded at suitable intervals. The legs V43 and 44 of element iiiand the legs 45 and 47 of element 4lare provided with suitable Y 3 ydivergent springiness so that when the iirewall is inserted into thestud, legs 43 and 46 engage stud wall i3 and legs 44 and 47 engage studwail 1d in a substantially air-tight manner.

FIG. shows use of modified U-shaped elements Sti and 5l wherein element5@ is provided with a horizontal base 52 and `substantially verticallegs 53 and 5d secured respectively thereto. Leg 53 is provided with anintegral oblique portion 53X and leg 5d is provided with a similaroblique portion 54X but disposed in an opposed urging relationship tothat or' portion 53X.

Likewise element Si is provided with depending vertical legs 56 and 5'7.Leg 56 is provided with an oblique portion 56X and leg S7 is providedwith a corresponding oblique portion 57X but operating in springy eifectin opposition to leg portion 56X. Preferably base 52 is spot Welded tobase 55 and the welded unit is inserted into stud l@ with portion 54Xand 53X moved toward one another also portion 56X moved .toward portion57X. Thus upon insertion into stud l@ elements 53X and 56X engage walli3 with an urging force and elements 54X and 57X engage wall 14 alsowith an urging force to better effect a hermetic or air tight sealtherebetween.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of yet` another two piece firewall orseparator wherein each sheet metal element is provided with a V-shape,The rewall of FIG. 6 cornprises a first V-shaped element 6i) having legsdi and 62 and a second V-shaped element 63 having legs 64 and 65. Theelements 66 and 6i engage one another in linear contact at theirrespective apiees. Legs 61 and 62 are normally slightly more divergentbeyond that necessary to merely touch walls 13 and 14. Similarly legs 6dand 65 are provided for a spring-like seizure of walls 13 and 1d bymaking legs 64 and 65 slightly more divergent 4 than necessary to eifectmere touching contact with said walls.

Thus all separators or firewalls of this invention are preferablyprovided with means for eifecting a spring-like seizure to the stud 19so that a substantially hermetic seal is made between the separator andthe stud.

This invention has been described with the use of several illustrativeexamples or embodiments but it is not to be limited to theseillustrations.

I claim:

l. As an article of manufacture a tubular integral sheet metal partitionstud for separating rooms, having aper-V tures in the opposing sidesthereof and a planar, nonapertured, ilexible removeably disposedfirewall disposed substantially diagonally-between and engaging inher1neti cally sealed relationship said opposing sides, said planariirewall being of a slightly larger dimension than the diagonaldimension of the stud so that the rewall is bent when inserted into saidstud and upon release of the bent shape a spring tension engagement ofsaid iirewall and said stud is obtained.

2. The article of manufacture of claim l wherein the planar firewall isprovided with angularly disposed planar portions adapted to seat in areaplanar relationship with the respective sides of said stud.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 2/47 Italy. 1/47France.

1. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE A TUBULAR INTEGRAL SHEET METAL PARTITIONSTUD FOR SEPARATING ROOMS, HAVING APERTURES IN THE OPPOSING SIDESTHEREOF AND A PLANAR, NONAPERTURED, FLEXIBLE REMOVEABLY DISPOSEDFIREWALL DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY DIAGONALLY BETWEEN AND ENGAGING INHERMETICALLY SEALED RELATIONSHIP SAID OPPOSING SIDES, SAID PLANARFIREWALL BEING OF A SLIGHTLY LARGER DIMENSION THAN THE DIAGONALDIMENSION OF THE STUD SO THAT THE FIREWALL IS BENT WHEN INSERTED INTOSAID STUD AND UPON RELEASE OF THE BENT SHAPE A SPRING TENSION ENGAGEMENTOF SAID FIREWALL AND SAID STUD IS OBTAINED.